Every October I get the same question from parents, phrased a dozen ways: “Should we apply early?” The honest answer is that “early” means four different things, and only one of them is a real commitment.
The four kinds of early
Early Action (EA). Apply by Nov 1 (sometimes Nov 15), hear back in December or January, and keep every option open until May 1. Non-binding. If your student has a finished application and the grades through junior year tell the story you want told, there is very little downside.
Restrictive or Single-Choice Early Action (REA/SCEA). Same non-binding promise, but the college asks you not to apply early to other private colleges. A handful of highly selective schools use this. Read the fine print: most still allow EA to public universities.
Early Decision (ED). Binding. If admitted, your student withdraws every other application and attends. Families sign the agreement, the counselor signs it, and the student signs it. This is the one that deserves a real family conversation, because it’s a decision about money as much as odds.
Rolling admission. No deadline in the usual sense; applications are reviewed as they arrive, and seats fill. Many of Pennsylvania’s public universities work this way. “Early” here just means “sooner is better.”
The two questions before you choose ED
- Have you run the net price calculator on that college’s website, with real numbers from last year’s tax return? ED admits you before you see competing offers. If the estimated net price would strain the family, ED is the wrong tool, no matter how much your student loves the campus.
- Would your student choose this school over every other possible acceptance, including ones with merit money? If the answer is “probably,” that’s a no. ED is for “yes.”
What early does not do
It doesn’t fix a thin application. The admit-rate bump you read about is partly recruited athletes, legacies, and students who were strong candidates anyway. A rushed essay submitted on Oct 31 at 11:40 PM is still a rushed essay. If the personal statement isn’t where it should be, Regular Decision with a better essay beats Early with a worse one.
A calendar for the next two weeks
- This week: confirm which colleges on the list have Nov 1 deadlines, and which have Nov 15. Write the dates down in one place.
- By Oct 22: final personal-statement draft. Supplements for the early schools done.
- By Oct 25: recommenders reminded (politely) if letters aren’t in. Transcript request submitted through your school’s process — Central Bucks, Council Rock and Lower Moreland each have their own, usually in Naviance or SCOIR.
- By Oct 29: submit. Not Oct 31. Portals slow down and families panic on the last night every single year.
Early is a strategy, not a status. Choose it on purpose.
By Jeff Thompson, Phortex Campus · October 15, 2024 · ← All posts